$65 Million Targets Mountain Wildfire Risk

The U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Forest Service signed a nearly $65 million, 10-year agreement to clear wildfire fuel from western North Carolina forests damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Helene affected more than 800,000 acres of forestland and left tens of thousands of downed trees across the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests. Two years on, much of that timber is still lying on the ground, drying out.

State crews will remove hazardous fuels, run prescribed burns, and grow seedlings to replant damaged stands. Debris has also blocked access roads, which makes fighting a fire in those woods more dangerous.

Forest Supervisor James Melonas said that despite the work already done, “an unacceptable level of risk remains for families living in vulnerable communities.”

The money moves through the federal Good Neighbor Authority, which lets state crews work on federal land and, in disaster counties, on private property.

CMS Board to Weigh Removing Chair

Three Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board members want the board to vote Sept. 22 on removing Stephanie Sneed as chair.

Cynthia Stone, Lenora Shipp, and Monty Witherspoon made the request in an email this week. Stone wrote that she’s no longer comfortable with the board’s current leadership and that a change is needed to protect the reputation of the board and the district.

The push follows the board’s nearly $400,000 investigation into Superintendent Crystal Hill, who returned to the job weeks ago. Few details have been released.

Five members are prepared to back Sneed. Liz Monterrey Duval said she’d need to understand what warrants disrupting the board’s usual December leadership elections.

Charlitta Hatch said a change now wouldn’t serve students, employees, or the community. Removing Sneed takes a majority vote, and she’d keep her board seat either way.

Southern Living Praises Wake Forest Campus

Southern Living‘s Winston-Salem travel guide names Wake Forest University one of the South’s most beautiful college campuses.

The university moved to Winston-Salem from the Raleigh area in 1956 and now sits on 340 landscaped acres. Maya Angelou taught poetry there, and the Demon Deacons play in the ACC.

The city counts six colleges and universities, among them Salem College, founded in 1772 as a Moravian school for girls and now a women’s college in Old Salem.

Old Salem itself dates to 1766, when Moravians laid out the town that Winston later grew up beside. The restored district is open year-round except January.

A historic marker a few steps from Winkler Bakery notes where the first Krispy Kreme opened in 1937. Wait Chapel hosts the country’s largest Moravian Lovefeast each December.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Reidsville: Police shut off their Flock Safety license plate readers Thursday and won’t renew the contract. Chief Ray Gibson called the cameras a valuable asset but said he had to weigh that against community concerns over privacy, data collection, and how the technology is used. (More)

➤ Charlotte: City Council votes Monday on a $15.2 million contract for a new hangar for CMPD’s helicopter, Snoopy. The new building off Billy Graham Parkway would add room for special operations and simulator training. (More)

➤Supply: The Brunswick County Board of Adjustment approved a permit Thursday for a second S&B sand mine, capped at 20 acres and 35 feet deep, with no explosives allowed. (See Details)

➤ Durham: The city is relaunching its Fayetteville Street Corridor Bounce Back program, with about $284,000 set aside for coaching, training, and grants of up to $10,000 for building and operational improvements. (More)

➤ Ashe County: First Lady Melania Trump visits Tuesday to talk with elementary students, teachers, and staff about technology in education. The White House says she’ll also stop into classrooms and promote “community resiliency” in the High Country. (More)

➤ Gaston County: Two suspects in Thursday’s quadruple shooting on Forbes Road were found dead in a wrecked car outside Athens, Ohio, after a police chase. Camryn Moore, 26, and Cory Armstrong, 29, faced murder charges in the deaths of Moore’s mother and uncle. (See Details)

Enjoy reading Flyover North Carolina? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ Wake Forest appeared to be stopped on fourth down in double overtime at Purdue on Saturday, setting off fireworks and an on-field celebration at Ross-Ade Stadium, until a replay review gave the Demon Deacons a first down by inches. Quarterback Gio Lopez scored on a 3-yard run two plays later and ran in the 2-point conversion for a 38-36 win. (Watch Play)

➤ Duke beat Illinois 31-27 in Champaign, as running back Nate Sheppard scored three touchdowns and cornerback Evan Smith sealed it with an interception in the final minutes. (More)

➤Appalachian State beat East Carolina 27-24 in Greenville on Saturday for its fourth straight win in the series, sealing it by recovering an onside kick after the Pirates scored with 21 seconds to play. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers officially kick off their 2026 regular season today against the Chicago Bears, a matchup between two NFC playoff teams from last season. The Panthers enter the game as 3.5-point home underdogs. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | US Open | MLB | Soccer | FIBA Basketball

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Hear conversations more clearly with Audien Atom hearing aids. These compact, nearly invisible devices are designed to amplify speech while reducing background noise, helping you stay connected without the high cost of traditional hearing aids. Enjoy all-day comfort, rechargeable convenience, and clearer hearing at an affordable price.

Flying together with our sponsor

Explore the History Behind Revelation

From Patmos to the ancient churches of Asia Minor, Times of Fire offers a fascinating look at the people, places, and events behind one of the Bible’s most discussed books.

If biblical history, archaeology, or the Book of Revelation interests you, this is worth a watch. RevelationMedia is offering the documentary for free at the link below.

Watch the Free Documentary →

➤ N.C. Mountain State Fair runs through Sept. 20 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. New this year: four midway rides including a spinner with flying cow cars, a walk-through butterfly enclosure, and a cooking show for kids. (See Details)

➤ The Carolina Beach Mural Project is auctioning 46 original panels painted by local artists for this year’s Mural Fest, with a reception Thursday at Kindred in Carolina Beach. (See Details)

➤ Blumenthal Arts says the Charlotte International Arts Festival won’t return to Uptown and Ballantyne this month. CEO Tom Gabbard said it started in 2022 on more than $1 million in federal pandemic money that lasted one year, and local funding never replaced it. (More)

➤ Volunteers will lay wreaths on more than 600 veterans’ graves across 12 Dare County cemeteries Dec. 5 and 6. The Veterans Advisory Council and VFW Post 10950 Auxiliary are recruiting help now. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤  Take a break from high-interest credit card debt with this Chase cash back credit card offer featured by FinanceBuzz. Qualified applicants can enjoy a lengthy introductory 0% APR period while earning cash back on everyday purchases, helping you save on interest and get more value from every dollar you spend. (LEARN MORE)

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ America’s colleges receive a brutal free speech report card. (Hear More)

➤ While other retailers chase AI, one legendary retailer chooses models, cameras, and catalogs over tech shortcuts. (Listen Now)

➤  This tiny workout creates a surprisingly mighty molecular response. (Podcast Available)

What’s your favorite food from the Northeast?

1. Pizza
2. Philly cheesesteak
3. Bagels
4. New England clam chowder
5. Boston cream pie
6. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you ready for summer to go?

1. Yes, let’s get a move on: 53%
2. Just take the humidity: 34%
3. No … please don’t go: 13%

What are some of the top New York-style pizzerias in North Carolina?

Show me the answer